Feed mechanism for sewing-machines.



H. P. RICHARDS. FEED MBGHANSM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

MPL10-ANON FILEDAPR. 12, 1900.l

H. P; RICHARDS. i FEED MEGHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES..

APPLIGATl-N TILED APR.12.19D0.A

Patented Mar. 4, 1913.

f5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. P. RICHARDS. FEED MBQHANISM POR SEWING MACHINES.

` APPLIGATLON FILED APR.12.1900,

1,054,715, Patented Mar. 4, 1913.

5 SHEBTS-SHEET 3.

I H..P. RICHARDS. PB BUMECHANISM FOR SEVING MACHINES.

vAPPLICATIN FILED PR.12.1900, 1,054,715. Patented Marl, 1913.A

GMBETHHBBT 4.

H. P.RIOHARDS.

FEED MEGHANISM Fon SEWING MAoHINBs. APPLICATION FILED APn.12,1soo. i 1,954,715, Patented Mar'. 4, 1913.

e saura-umm.

H. P. RICHARDS. FEED MEGHANISM FOB. SEWING MACHINES.

APPLIGATION FILED APR`..142. 19'00.

1,054,715, v Patentedmar. 4,. l1913. I

, To all whom t may concern.'

- a citizen 'of the United States, residing in pNiTED. STATES PATENT OFFICE. y

nunnnrnnlenanns, .or'itnw BRITAIN, .coNNEc'r1cUT,' Assxcnoniiro J. Ev'An'rs TRACY, or PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

FEED MECHANISM ron sEwINc-'MAcHnvns specification oflmttrsratent... PatentedMaL 4,1913.

Applicationl aiea'aprn 12, 1900. ser-iai No. A12,516.,

-Be it known that I, HUBERT P. RICHARDS,

New Britain, in the county of Hartford and lState of Connecticut, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Feed Mechanism' for Sewing-Machines,` of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to feed mechanism for sewing-machines, and has for its object a construction' whereby improved results -Inay be effected in amanner hereinafter set forth.

A further object of the invention the provislon 'of improved feed mechanism comprehending means for varying the working stroke of the feed memberand for changing the initial position thereof, wherebyit will engagel the fabric at different points-with relation to the presser-foot and needle-path. A further object of the invention is the i provision of a feed member ofl particular constructiony .which cooperates with the stitch-formingmechanism in a novel manner in. the. formation of different kinds vof stitches.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a sewing-machine to which my improvement is applied. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line a-a, Fig. 1, showing the crank-shafts for'actuating the feed member in plan. Fig. 3 is an end view. of the machine, looking -toward the right in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section on line lb--b, Fig. 1, looking toward the left.4 Fig. 4a is a perspective -view, partially in section, of the device connecting one ofthe tensionoperating devices with the lever for actuating the stitch# changing mechanism. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 4, taken on line o-c, Fig. 1,looking toward the left. Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged details of a portion of the feed mechanism detached, illustrating, respectively, two extreme vpositions of the feed member or dog when set to have`.its maximum stroke, and also showing, by'dotted lines. the peculiar path traveled by said feed member in performing'i'ts work,.sa1d figures being ,cross-sectional vlews-taken on V line tZ-d, Fig. 1, looking toward the left.

Figs. 8 and-9 arejviews similar to Figs. \6

.and 7, of the feelm'echanism,illustrating,

respectively, two extreme positions; ofjtheparts when they are set to have' a. minimum stroke, and also showing, by dotted outlines, the pathpursued by the feed member when the parts are in` this posit-ion.. Fig. 10I is a side elevation of a looper employed in connection with my improved feed mechanism,

the fabric being shown located upon the 4the manner of forming the stitch. Fig. 12

is a side elevation of the looper and needle,

tion of its return stroke, th/e fabrichaving been turned around the needle atan angle to the posit-ion shown' in Figs. 10 and 11.-

Fig. -13 is a perspective view yof the parts when in the positions represented by Fig. 12, the fabric being shown in section to disclose the mode of forming the stitch. Fig. 14 is a sideelevation, and Fig. 15 a perspective View, of the stitch-forming mechanism in a dierentl position, the fabric lying upon the cloth-plate and being swungaround the needle, inthe usual way, at an angle to the position shown in Figs. 10 and 11 fand the strands of the loop being twisted and in Contact with the edge of the needle-opening in the cloth-plate. Figs. 16 and 17 are sice and perspective views of the stitch-forming mechanism in a different position, the fabric being raised by the feed mechanism and shown as turnedv when in such position, the loop having been drawn out. Fig. 18 1s an `showing a loop-taker in engagement witha. lnew loop and in the actof drawing up a- 'preceding loop, the fabric'bein' illust-rated when raised from the thro -p ate by thev ,feed mechanism, and the nee le at theincepenlarged 'cross-sectional view of the tension .V

' device for the needle-thread, and a portion of its actuating instrumentalities, the section being taken on dotted line bb, F 1g. 1-

'Fig. 19 is a transverse section on line e--e',

Fig.- 18', looking in the direction of the arrow. Figs. 2 0 and 21 are plan and slde views, respectively, of the feed'. member or dog detached, and are drawn to the same scale, as 6. Fig. 22 is a plan view off-a portion Vof thel throat-1 or cloth platethrough which'- the feed-dog and the .needle work.

Fig. 23 is a side View of a portion of the feed-adjusting device detached. Fig. 24 is a perspective view of the pivot-plug of said feed-adjusting device, detached. Fig. 25 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the relative movements of the needle and the looper and their actuating devices; and Fig. 26 is a .diagrammatic view illustrating, by full lines', the peculiar path described by a'point on the feed member or dog during one cycle of its operation, and, by dotted lines, the path described by such feed member or dog after `the devices for changing its stroke have been shifted.

Similar characters of reference designate` like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the drawings, for the purpose of'e'x-` cmplification of my invention, I have shown the necessary parts' of a sewing-machine which cooperates therewith and serves to illustrate thek application and mode of 0peration of the improved-feed mechanism.

- This sewing-machine is shown comprising a framework, y(designated generally by A,)'y which may be of any suitable construct-ion ada ted to carry the working parts of the mac ine; 'a reciprocatory needle-bar N,

l carrying a' needle N; a needle-bar-actuating shaft D, journaled in suitable bearings in the framework and connected with the needle-bar by a crankand-link mechanism in a common manner; a looper S, (shown disposed at an 'inclination to the path of movement of and below the needle-bar,) said looper having a plurality of loop-takers,; a looper-guide lGr, supported by a bracket G -on the framevvork;' a .driver H, for supporting and actuating'the looper;y a llooperactuating shaft D, supported in bearings of' the machine-frame; a main driving-shaft D2.located `in parallelism with and preferably at one vside of the axis of the looperactuating shaft, said shaft D2 being equipped with a crank D3, connected Witha similar.

crank D4 on the needle-bar shaft. by a link or pitman DX, in, theusual manner; a two-to.

three train of gear-SF, connecting the main driving-shaft and the looper-actuating shaft; improved feed mechanism,- in which my present invention resides, (designated in "device W` coperating with the improved l' feed mechanism, shiftableinto and out of the position where it cooperates with the looper. and effective for engaging the loop and holding the same in proper posit-ion to permit the next succeeding loop to passl therethrough;

means for controlling theloperation of the stitch-changing device; a tension device (designatedin a. general way by T) coplerating with the stitclrchanging device and the feed mechanisni,'in a manner hereinafter set forth; tension-modifying devices,

one of which is controlled 'by a. suitable ,and feed mechanisnii are shifted, as will be hereinafter set forth. 1

Generally speaking the framework of the machine may besubstantially of the construction shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States, granted to Francis H. Richards,.January ,5, 1897, No.

574,573; and said fran'ie'work usually comprises a bed-plate 3. having a Alooper-guidesupporting bracket (l' at the \\'o1'ksuppo1'ting` end thereof.` a hollow upright l at the opposite end of the bed's'plate, and a vertical head 6, at the free end of arm 5, for receiving a needle-bar. Needle-bar- N and presserbar P are shown, as in the patentl mentioned,

.axiallycoincrideng the needle-bar being supported for reciprocation in the presser-ban. which is in turn mounted formovement in presser-foot upon the fabric.

'- A looper S, similar to the discoidal looper set forth in the patent"l mentioned, or of 'other form, is shown supported ,below 'the .-thehead 6 and is equipped at its lower end `with a presser-foot 7, a springv (not shown) being in practice provided, as illustrated in' said patent, for regulating the action ofthe bed of the machine for rotative movement permit a slight diametric movement of the y looper. -Ordinarily this looper will be equipped with suitablel means S for carry-A ing a cop or bobbin. and will 'also have a necessary tension device for the lower thread. In the form illustrated looper S is equipped with three correspondingly-dis-' posed loop-takers l1, zz, and h2, respectively, 'and has also formed inv its inner face a series ot' driver sockets 8. disposed preferably concentric to the axis of the looper and located equidistant from one anotherfsaid sockets heing adapted to receive pins 9 upon arms l0 of a driver H. which may vbeof'the .saine general construction as that set forth in the patent mentioned;y and. said looper also has the usual series of needle-receiving grooves. Y

Driving-.shaft D2 and shaft D foractu'- ating the needle-bar are, as' abovev stated, connected by cranks and a pitman Dc and:

- therefore have a oneto-one ratio of movement; and the. looper-actuating shaft is connected to the main driving-shaft'.by a 'twoto-three trainof gearing E in such a'way as -to have two' complete .rotations .to every three lcomplete' rotations of said main driving-shaft, and consequently said looper-actua-ting shaft has two-thirds of'a'complete rotation at every complete reciprocation .of the needle-bar, the ratio'of movement between the looper and needle beingthe same in the present instance as in the patent men- Ationed.- Gear-train E is shown compris-h ing an internal gear 12, i'Xed to the end of the shaft4 D anda pinion 13, attached to the i; end of the driving-shaft D-,and meshing with said ,internal gear.

As above stated my present invent-ion resides in a sewing-machine of suitable kind iequipped with improved feed mechanism1 the lattr being illustrated most clearly in Figs.4 1, 2, and 1, and in-Figs. 5 to 9, inclusive, of the drawings; and4said feed mechanism comprises two rock-shafts R and R', located, respectively, at opposite sides of the looper-actuating'shaft D and journaled in.

bearings' in tliejlower part of the machineframe; two cranks 14 and 15, fixed, respectively, to the outei 'ends of the rock-shafts R and R; a feed dog or member designated in a general way by K) pivotally con.-

nected atoneA extremity tothe outer end of the crank 14 andterminating at its other end in a fork or slot in shiftable connection with a wrist-pin 15,'attached tothe outer `end of the crank 15;'two cranks 16 and 16'-, secured, respectively, to the inner endsofy the rock-shafts R and R; a compound linkage (designated in a general' way byv for actuating the' feed member or dog, said linkage connecting the. 'crank 416 with anV eccentric 18 on main driving-shaft D2 and serving to advance the feed member .or dog to feed the fabric; vand :a linkage (desig-v nated in a general way by L.) connecting the crank 1 6 Aand saidfeccentiic 18 and operating to elevate the feed member or -doga't the .proper time. These feedinieni'ber udvancing and elevating linkagesare so constructed and disposed,'and. are sotimed in their movements one relatively tothe other;- that during one complete.v cycle .of movenient of the driving-shaft D? and eccentric- 18 from anormal ineffective position the linkage Lf will first beshifted .to .theposi-I- tion shown in Figs. 6 and 8 to cause the,

rock-shaft'-R and its-crank toelevate `the feed member. or dog: and then the .linka-ge' L lwill. impart an advancing movementtoi the feed4 dog" throiighi'the'- instrumentality of the rock-'shaft Rv audits crank, the parts being then shifted to the 'positions shown Figs. 7 and 9 and after this "action has taken place linkageL, will operateto depress the-fee'd memberfor dog, and linkage L will then operate to impart a retractive movementl` thereto, the operations of 'said linkages taking place in alternation. `In the form shown the feed-member-advancing linkage lL comprises a short-link 19,".piv-V oted at its lower end to a projection on strap 20 of eccentriclS, and a linkv21`, ar-v ticulated at` its inner end to 'one extremity,A of thelink 19 and at its outer. end' to the free end of the crank 16.' Linkage'L, for elevating the feed member or dog, isashown comprising a crank-shaft R3, having two differentlydisposed cranks '24 and 24e', a link 25, which may be formed integral4 with the eccentricstrap. 20, articulated at its '1)2, 'the extreme movement of said crank 15'., .being indicated by' dot-ted lines in. Fig. '9; 'and the extreme rangeof movement of crank 24 of interri'ieifiiate4 crankshaft-1R? being alsoindicated dotted linesgin saidj. .f g'ureg.

' For-changing', the "working stroke ,oflv the *.feed member or dog'K and; simultaneously,

shifting the.position^of-saidd0g a feedadjusting -device (designated infaj general one of the preferred.' fo'rnisl'theifeof, coltiprises a slide 27, supported forjmovement:

in a way2f74 in lthe vframework of the nia` no chine, said slide having at'itsinner end adepending portion 28, which' is pivotally and ,adjustably connected to link 2 11'in'ter-f mediate the ends'fsaid flink, .said portion -28 constituting the lfulcrumfon which the' link swings and also governing the range? ofmovement-of 'said link. T o form `a slidin-g pivotal connection betweentlie feedj-ad-'fA justing device M Aand ,link 21,- the dependr A[ing 'portion-2801i said -devicefha'sasocketfV` .2.9- m one of' its faces,i n which" socketkis seated 'a Vplug or .pivot 30, the bifu'rcated end;

of'-)'vhich 's t-raddl'e's the link'21, said plug being siipportedfor oscillatory movementgint-hedependingportion of said device M, Y as will-be readily understood-by reference to Figs. '23-anl- 24:` 4of thedrawinga *and -tov'iFigs 6to 9^, ,'incli'isive',` which illus- .tra-tejbydotted-lines these parts.

For shifting he. device M to ch 'fulcifuiii vof "the link 2 1, and .consequently Sti .'way by M) is provided, which device in' angeV the ien isti

vthe working stroke of the feed member oi' dog K, I have provided a device, which may be a screw 90, extending through a guideway 91 in the bed-plate of the mach-ine (see Fig. 5) and into the slide-bar 2T of the adjusting device M, said screw having at its' upper end a knurled headwhich may be turned to hold' the adjusting device in its changed position. Then it is desired to change the stroke of the feed member or dog, and also change its working position, it is merelyl necessary to advance or retract the adjusting device toward or away fro-in 'the inner end of the link 21, which will -shift the fulcrum of said link and increase or-decrease the range of travel of the working end. thereof and at the same time raise or lower saidworking end and thereby turn the rockshaft R a corresponding distance, which latter will move the feed member longitudinally and change its initial position relatively to the needle. Thus the feed -member or dog will always be :centralized or atleast properly repositioned with respect to the movement of the presser-foot., and that, too, whether a long stitch or` a short stitch is being made, the initial-point of the y `working stroke of thev feed-dog being farther to the right when av long stitch to -be made than when the mechanism is. adjusted to form a short or fine stitch. In either case, however, that part of the feed member .-or dog which is adjacent to the-path -of 'movement of the needle will never move as Aafar-'away from said needle-path as it would 'if the initial-point of the movement: ofthe feed-dog were a fixed one common to both vafshort and a long feed. 'I his construction' thereforepermits the presser-foot to obtain' alfabet-ter and rmer hold upon the material and assures a more positive feed movementA when t-hefeed mechanism is adjusted for a;

fine stitch than would be the case if'the feeddog were not so centralized with respect to the presser-foot for both a long and a short stroke.v c v Preferably the feed dog or member K will lbe provided with three parallel' rows of teeth, 31, 32, and 33', the rows 32 and'33 extending through the rear portion of and terminating slightly remote fromv the center of the feed-plate, and the row 31 having one teeth will engage the fabric at,.a greater distance froin'the `path of the needle when a long stitch is being made than'when a short stitch is being made the ossibility of preceding stitches being'v caug t on the teeth of the feed-dog when turning corners is entirely obviated, and at the same, time said feed-dog may engage the fabric at the mostpractica-ble distance from thel lpath of the needle to prevent kinking` and securethe best results in feed.

Referring to Fig. 26, it shows successive positions, practically from one to eight in-4 clusive, of a point on the feed-dog of the feed mechanism. 'A principal-object of the peculiar organization of actuating mechanism shown in Figs. G to 9, inclusive, is to impart to the feed-dog the peculiar movement or figure. o'f movement illustrated iny a general way in said Fig.. 26, by which it shown by dotted lines in said Jfigure when.`

forming a short or a fine stitch. One object'of thus operating the Kfeed-dog is to maintain said dog in an elevated position during certain portion of the stitch-forining operation, during -wl11ch portion or 'period of time the looper-"thread may be drawnup through the Acloth-plate without I so much resistance as would'otherwise occur. For more clearly illustrating this feature of 'the invention a diagrammatic line a', corresponding to Fig. 26is shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 for exemplifyin the relative places in ithe path of the fee movement which a `givenvpoint on the feed-dog will occupy at the successive stages illustrated in said Figs. 6to 9, respectively.' j

To illust-rate what is mea-nt by the deseription labove given, attention is now invited toFigs. 10, 11, 14, and'l, by which it will vbe seen that when the cloth or fabric is turned at an angle to change the line of feed, the threads of the loop become crossed or twisted one partly around another (see particularly Fig. 15) so that it becomes desirable at one portion of the vstitch forming operation to hold up the fabric from the throatplate in order that' the threads `may not become tightly twistedy and may not unduly bind or cramp lone another duringthe operation of pullingup the preceding loop. Thus, the fabric may be turned in the usual manner to change the direction of 'the stitching, Whether the fabric rests upon the throat-plate -or is elevated. Whenjthe fabric is down, the needle is at the lower end vof its stroke and the loope'r is engaging a new loop, and there is little or no pull upon the't-hread by the looper; While, owing to 'the elevation of the fabric during theremainder of the' stitch-forming operation, the liability of cramping the strands of thread f isavoided. One of the purposes ofthe in- 'Y ventionisto avoid dragging the strands of the loop or loops over the throat-plate and under'the cloth, andv causing them to be pinched between the cloth and the plate, so

as to cause a hitch orbind, with liability of cloth-plate during that particular period of straining andbrea-king the thread. By hold-- ing the cloth or fabric elevated from the orming'the first stitch after the direction ofthe seam has'be'en changed, all trouble is overcome, forthe'thr'ead is left free of pressure and is thus permitted readily tobe `,drawn up. (SeeFig. 17.)

' 'Generally the .operation of the loop'er in they present machine', in forming a lock- `stit'ch, is similar to that ofthe same 'part described: in the patent aforesaid, butthe main fee'dl mechanism is` different and cooperates with the stitch-making devices in` a peculiarV way.- vIn making a lock-stitch the successive 4loops l, which are formed on the descendingl movement of the needle, are

' successively engaged bythe succeeding looptakers and are carried aroundr 'the' looper to`inclose 'the lower thread and forma lockstitch, each preceding loop being drawn up by'a'succeeding loop as said succeeding loop vis partially7 drawn out. by the l'ooper,- as will be understood by reference 'to Figsh lO'to 17, inclusive. Y

In the organization of mechanism shown the looper S is intended constantlytoY be 'rotated in the same `direction during the operation of sewing, as shown by the arrows in Figs. 3, 4.-, and-o, and 10v tov 17, inclusive,

\ of the drawings.

Combined with `my improvedfeed mechani'smand'servin'g as a convenient and simple means for changing the form of stitch resulting from the normal operation of the needle and looper' mechanisms hereinbefore described without 'effecting-a. change in the direction of movement of the looper or feed devi'ceor in the mode of o -peration of the several lock-'stitch'mechanisms--to Wit, lthe looier-l mechanism, the needle mechanism, an' fthe' 'feed mechanisnr-I have provided a.

lr` stitch-ch'anging device (designated in a general /way by lV) which is in all essential characteristics substantially the same, as'the stitch-'changing device described in my n Ptent. No, 607,079, dated J uly 12,1898, said stitch-changing device being shiftable into position for coperat-ing with the looper and being effective for engaging the upper portions of successive loops, and for deflecting -said portions laterally of the path of the` needle so that succeeding loops may pass through preceding loops and cause' the stitch-forming mechanism to produce a chain-stitch or a chain-lockstitch.v This stitch-changing devicezV'comprises a loopdiverter-Q0, fulcrumed at 60 v below the bedplate o f the machine. and adapted tonoscil-l late. across the path of the loops, the actu. atlng means for t-he loop-diverter. being shown as a lever 62, a rod 6 3, articulated at oneA end Vto .the .actuating-lever l62 and-at its opposite end to said loop-diverter;` andfa cam 64, fixed to the driving-shaft D2,.wh ich cam has two oppositely-disp'osed lworkingA l lout of and into. operati-'ve relation with thevr Y loop, I have'provided a throw-out device W', (shown asa stud t}2,)`` supportednfor` rotative and longitudinal f movement in au bearing formed in the framework, said stud having. its lower end extending through `the actuating-lever 62 -and constituting a`, s up`-y .port and fulcrum for saidlever.

In the 'above connection .I 4have provided y anactuator 65,-extending through anv inclined' or cam groove 66, formed inthe up: right 4 of the machine-frame'and `having a headat the outer end thereof, wherebyfsaid stud 62-may be rotated and simultaneously lowered tothrow the 'rollerend ofthe lever i 62 into operative engagement `with the .working surfaces of thecam-G-t.. This studfis equipped with a projectioni', so `disposed (see Figs. 2, et, and 4a) that .when thef stud.

strike Vsaidlever 62 at a point intermediate 'its fulcrum and .outer en dFand throw the same toward the left, as seen inv Fig. 2, to thereby shift the working end of the loop- .62 is raised and rotated saidproject-ion will ico diverter out of operative relation with the looper, Vthe faces vof vthe cam-groove being 'upwardly inclin'ecLva's shown `mostclearly in Figs. 1 and ta, so that-y when'the actua-tor 65 is shifted toward t-he leftthe stud 62,, which carries the actuating-lever-62, will2be raised and simultaneously rotated.: Actuating-c'am 64-is shown constructed to .impart both advancingland retractive movements to the 'loop-diverter, but, aswill` be obvious, it' may be so'shaped` estoi/impart av movement only in'one direction to saidv 1.00pdiverter, and other meansv might-.beenrployed for imparting-movementthereto in an opposite'direction. y i i In a sewing-:machinewit isdesirablethat means shouldrbeprovid'ed for varyingthe tension Vof the needle-threa-d- Vat'fdiliferent points in themovementpoffthe-glooper, the

construction generally preferred in sewingmachines having been one in, which-the .ten-

'sion of the thread maybe decreased-justbefore the engagement -of afloop -by ,afloop-A takerpwherebybreakage of the thread'dur- -ing the firststage of the -drawingfolltfofl'tbge loop isavoided, the tension-being afterward increased just-before the final drawing 11p-of '130 ferent kinds of stitches, thlat the tension should be changed in accordance with the requirements determined by thfe kind of stitch being made, it being necessary, for example, to place a greater tension upen the thread in the formation of a lock-stitch than in mak` ing a chain-stitch. In the present case I have provided tension-modifying means automatically operative for increasing or decreasing the tension of the thread during the making of each separate stitch, in conn ect-ion with means for changing the tension in the desired way when the feed mechanism is shifted for making another kind of stitch. Hereinafter the tension-modifying means, automatically opera-tive during the making of any sion-varying operative relation with the looper,'it being obvious that when the. stitch-changing device is inoperative and the mechanism operates to make a lock-stitch a high degree' of tension should be employed, .while when the stitch-changing device is thrown into position to coperate with the looper; and

deflect the loops carried by the same `the tension should be modified materially so that it will be much less than is necessary for the making of a lock-stitch. To simplify the construction, I have'shown a singlethread tension device, such, for example7 as lthat indicated by T, which will ordinarily'1 be employed;l land this ytension device may be controlled by bot-h the tension-varying ldevice and the tension-changing device conjointly. As shown, the tension device embodies two tension-plates, such as '35 and 36, one of which, 35, may be supported on a suitable' project-ing portion or boss 37 of the framework, the other, 36, being in this instance loosely placed over a sleeve 38, supported for reciprocation in a bore in the bo 37, an adjustable stopor nut, such Vas secured Ato t-he upper screw.

39, being threaded end of said' sleeve 38. between stitch, will be termed a tenj device and will control the; tension device coperating directly with the thread, while the tension-modifying means, which determines the ext-reme degrees of; tension for different stitches, will be termed j a t-ensionchanging7 device, and in thej preferred. embodiment of the invention willi be controlled directly by the throwing of the stitch-changing device into and out of Iwhich nut` and tension-plate 36 a coiled spring 40, encircling saidsleeve, is placed. In this construction the part-. that operates directly to vcontrol the tension of said spring 40, through each stitch-making operation',

is a rod 41,- sup orted` :tor` movement in sleeve 38 and havmg a not/chfv or recess 41 in its side; the wall of whiehisadapted to 4engage a pin 42, carried by!- tension'-plate 36 and extending through'ga. slot-fin -the 4sleeve 38. lVhen rod 41 is lifted, the'fpin 42, and thereby the'upper tensiolplate' 36, will be raised slightly to decrease thetension on the thread between said plates 35 and 36. In the construction illustrated the lift the latter, a coiled retracting-spring 43* being disposed between the lower headed end 41x of the rod 41 and a portion,` of the framework. At the lower end the rod 43'v actuating the stitch-changing device, the

spring 43x at -the 'upper end of the rod 43 serving to maintain the rollin contact with said face 45. Preferably during about three-fourths of each revolution of the peripheral cam Ll-,the roller 44 'rides upon the dead face of the said cam, the rod 43 being held down out of effective position by means of the spring 43", so that during this periodthe thread is gripped by the tension-plate36 under the action of the compression-spring 40. This tension period preferably begins when the new loop has just passed the period of greatest distention, or about half vway between Fig. 16 and Fig. 14 positions. When the new loop is a. little past the Fig. 16 or Fig. 17 posit-ion, so that the preceding loop is tightened and the for- -mation -of a stitch is hence completed, the

roller 44 is forced up a trifle by the slightly actuatlng-rod 43 cooperates at lts upper end with the lowerext-remity of the 'rod 41 to protruding active portion of the peripheral cam 45, thereby causingthe rod 43 to actupon the tension-plate 36 so as to relieve the tension upon the thread, so that as the looper continues to revolve inthe direction of the arrow and to give the new loop its greatest. distention, it may pull a fresh supply of thread from the spool. said'roller and rod, together with said plate 36, are in this instance immediately forced down by said spring 40, thus agrin gripping the thread. The operation of pulling out the new loop and drawing' up the pre.- ceding loop preferably begins approximately 'at the time that the feed-dog is elevated 'to its highest position, so that threads may be drawn freely through the cloth. and escape the liability of being pinched between the cloth and the throatfplate, or becoming twisted tightly in case the cloth should at Thereupon time turned to nchange the direction ofv -the stitching. Preferably the descent of the feeding do is delayed yuntil'the, new loop is substantially drawn out and the preceding f stitch substantially completed; and prefer# ably tension is put upon the thread'before-a -looptaker,engages a new loop, so that `the portiondfthe thread above 'the fabi-'ic is l well controlled during the .'entire Stitchforming operation, except lduring the described momentary release' thereof, at which timethe looper is pulling both at the com-' pleted lstitch and (alsoat the spool, so that as thest-itch becomes tightened, the spool pays off a little thread. Vith this tension device' .I preferably employ a short lever, such asl 46,

Fig. 18having'1a -ball-bearing support. 47 between its ends, this lever being mounted 4 inra suitable opening in lthe framework and 49 is lowered.

is .connected with the stud 62., which may Q0'- be shifted by the "knob 65 tochange the poat rits inner end engaging'the sleeve 38 near the lowerv end of the latter, the outer end of y.said lever being in position to be turned a thrust-rod 49 to lower the sleeve and' the stop-nut 39 to increase the tension when the vfeedl and-.other mechanisms are set for the making of a lock-stitch, this tension `loe-Y ing. decreased of course as soon as the rod At its lower end saidrod 49 sition of the stitch-changing device, in the manner hereinbefore described; -and when z this stud -62 is raised by the knob 65 it is locked in's'uch position by a vport-ion ofthe groove at the "end of the cam'slotj (See vigg4l.) A spring 7 0,` mounted in a vrecess varied automatically bythe operation of the rod 43 during` vthe making` of eachI stitch,

whatever may be'thebharacterof the l`atter, .4

- vand that when the feed mechanism is set for the making o f one kind of stitch' theA tension will bef 4 Charged toa 'certain definite extentby the action of the'rod 49.

variously modified'without departure fromlthe scope of thisinvention, and theffllse thereof isnot restricted tl a .machine of the characterl herein described, forI may be,l employed .in connection with various styles, .and class of. machines.

^' No claims-are` herein ln ladejjto the stitch-lv making inechanism --includng the tension device herein set forth except'in'so far asl. said mechanisms coact 'and combine with theimproved feed mechanism described: Said stitch-forming mech enisms are illustrated,

' described, and claimed in `my contemporaneously-pending application filed September.A

' the needle.`

M-y 'improved feed mechanism may be- 1e, laca- Serfin No. eaoedratlent Nnmb'er' r 679,914', issued August 6, 1901. Y It will be seenthat the fabric or work is lifted` from the throateplate'when the loop taker engages a' thread-loop, and is-v held there until the Vloop-taker substantially completes .the voperation of drawing out the.

loop; that such lifting of the fabric is preferhbly* effected bythe. feeding-dogwhich is elevated atl about the `'time 'that thel loo'p-` taker enters a loop, and is there -held sub!v stantiallyuntil the loo '-isdrawn out, al-v though the vtiming oft e operation of the eedingdog and U16. Per'may Obviously 80` I be 'varied somewhat within the-scope'f 'the invention; that the dog isadvaned during ltheV drawing out ofthe new-"loop and by preferencev is lowered approximately at the time that the loopis fully ldrawn out;th'a,t' such dog remains approximately stationany" -in its elevated position during a considerable portion of the operation of drawing I011 j the loop, and then quickly advances, falls,- 'rej treats, and rises to its initial position,` It will where the feeding-strokel begins. y further be lseen that, in this instance," the time the dog is elevated and approximately stationary; that when the loop is brought n' ore nearly in line with the direct-ionoffthe' ,looper-hook atiirst draws thethread ina direction which is quite-diagonal to the di-y 'vrection of the' needle-.'stroke; that VatthisI needle, so that liability of pinching or chafing of the threads is reduced, thedog is.rap

idly lowered, thisbeing at thetime approxi-y Imately thatthe new loop is completely drawn out.' It will be' understood thatthe danger of pinching the thread isgreatest when the loop stands at thegreatest-angle to The dog is moved to asuiii- 'ciently high elevation for giving ample freedom of movementvto the several strands of lot thread, and is held at such elevation for a y lprolonged time.-` One ofA the loop-takersy .draws out a thread-loop while another thereof is relinquishing the preceding loop.

VIt will alsol be perceived that in this instance, means for lifting .the dog are po'sitively connected te a shaft D .which directly actuates the looper and revolyes twice during threef needle-strokes; the vdogfcarrying bar K at one endv is pivoted upon a rocking member 14 and' at the other end is supported; 'by ;a rocking member 15, ,the-dog being carried between vthe' endsof said bar; movement-trainsramify .from lthe rev- V olublemember 18 to saidrocking members,

the severa-l vmembers of said movement` Y Atrainsbeing connected tov one-another and to saidrevoluble member by :pivotal joints,

and effecting a substantially'horizontal ad"A Vance movement from 7 tol, at Fig. 26, then l a combined advance and 'falling movement from 1 to 2, then .a combined falling and retracting movement from 2 tov'4, and then a 130 inname the' several strands' of thread, se that one loop may pall out freely while a preceding one 1s drawn-up, a new opera-tion in sewing-machines is V.eifectedg 'and' it vvill Voe-` ;tinderstood that at this time the feeding or spoel port-ion of the loop is likeivise .re-

. teased from pressure between 'the cloth and tightened.

the plate, and hence that the looper tends to draw thread ofi the spool as Well as to draw np or tighten the preceding loop. By putthe' described tension devices I also avoid the danger arising from such lifting of the fabric, and consisting-in the liability of the 'thread to pay 4off prematurely .freni Jthe spool. The length of time duringlvvhich the thread is under 'tension may vary, but preferablyit is under tension during the entire stitch-fortning operation except at the period kof the greatest diste'ntionof theloop.

,Certain of the improvements herein set forth are of considerable importance in the forinaticnef chainistitches, especially those relating to the elevation. of the fabric fromv the throat-plate, as obviously it is of mo- .ment that the several 'strands of thread should havel great freedom of movement inthe formation of a chain-stitch. It is also important that the thread be properly elaniped in order to prevent, at the chainstitching operation, premature paying ofi' of lthe thread from the spool. lt is also advantageous that when the loop-diverting mechanism is thrown into or ont of .operative position, the tension of the spring Li() should be varied.

ltis not intended to limit the invention to the precise construction, arrangement,

timing and operation herein shown, and

i between said actuator arm and said driving shaft, said connection including an intervening lever and a link, an eccentric con-4 nceted to said link and carried by said driv'.- ing shaft, and said intervening lever being so connected to said rock shaft as to canse 4the saine, and a separately pivon a prolonged dwell at one end of resizing movement.

2. ln-a sewing machine, a feeding mechanism including a'rock shaft, a feeding-dog and means for lifting and depressing the saine and comprising a rocking member acting thereon and mounted upon said rock shaft, said rock shaft being provided With .an actuating arni, an independently mounted lever, a link connecting the latter to said actuating arm, an 'eccentric carried by said driving shaft, a link connecting said lever to said crank pin or eccentric, and the relative `arrangement ofthe parts being such 'that said rocking member is caused to recover quicklyfroin one stroke and to make a pause at the completion of the other stroke.

In a sewing machine, the combination of a feeding doga rock shaft, a driving shaft, an eccentric upon aid driving shaft, alrocking member for lifting and depressing said dog, saidrocking inen'iber being inonnted upon said rock shaft., the latter being provided with an actuating arm, a link connecting said arin to' an independently mounted lever, a 'link connecting said lever to said eccentric carriedby-said driving shaft, and

a rocking member for advancing and ce-- tnct'ing said dog, a shaft `vvhereon the last mentioned rocking member is mounted, said shaft being also provided with an operating arm, and said operating arni being positively vconnected to said driving shaft by Vmeans of a device which is fulcrnined between its ends and at .one end is pivotally jointed to said operating arm, and at its other end is positively connected by means of a link to the link which connects said eccentric to said independently mounted lever.

L.hln a sewing machine feeding mechanisin, the combination with a revoluble driving shaft, of a feeding dog, a rocking ineinber positively connected to the feeding dog for lifting and depressing 'the same, and a separately pivoted device intervening Vhetween said driving shaft and said rocking member, said separately pivoted device being posi-tively driven by an eccentric vcarried by said driving shaft, and said rocking member being so connected to-said inter-A vening device as to be given a prolonged dwell at the end of-its dog-lifting stroke, and means for advancing and retracting said dog.

5. In a sewing machine feed mechanism, the combination with a re'volnble driving Shaft, an eccentric carried thereby, a. linkage connected to .said eccentric, a yfeeiflinifr dog,

of a rocking inenlher positively connecten to said feeding-dog for lifting and d tervening betvv'een said driv said rocking member, said l.ely pivot ed device being positively d..

n by said eccentric carried by said driving shaft,

means connecting thesame to said rocking member, said means during the doglifting operation being carried slightly past the dead center, and at 'this portion of its .movement crossing the axis ofvsaid sepaof a feeding dog, a rock shaft, an eccentric.

carriedy by said driving shaft, a rocking member for advancing and retractmg said dog, said rocking member being mounted upon said rock shaft-,said rock shaft being also provided with" an operating arm which 1s actuated by said driving shaft, and said driving shaft being cnnect-edto said operating arm by mcans'of a device which at one end is pivotally 'jointed to said operating arm and at its other end is pivotally connected-by means of a short link to said eccentric carried by said driving shaft, and being also adjustably fulerumed between its ends.

7. In a feed mechanism for sewing machines, the 'combination with parallel rock shafts, each having a pair of cranks, of a feed member actuated by two of the cranks of said rock shafts, an eccentric, a link conneet-ing the eccentric with a crank on one of the rock shafts, an adjustableslide having a socket in one of-its faces, a plug seated in the socket and having a bifurcated end fitted over said link` and linkages connecting the eccentric with a crank on the othe rock shaft. v

8. In a sewing machine, the crombination with a feed dog, of a driving shaft, a looper, two rock shafts, rocking members upon corresponding ends of said rock shafts, a bar carrying the feed dog and mounted upon said rocking members, a rocking member mounted upon the opposite end of one of said rock shafts, a link for driving said rocking member, a rocking member mounted upon the opposite end of the other of said rock shafts. a link for driving the last mentioned rocking member, means including at least one member carried by said rock shafts for driving sail` links, said mechanism effecting a prolonged dwell of one of said rock shafts during the formation of the loop and at the termination 0f one of its rocking movements` and a quick recovery at the termination of the other thereof, and means for adjusting orv regulating the timing of said movement.

9. In a sewing machine feed mechanism, the combination with a driving shaft. an

actuator provided upon said shaft. a short' link connectedto said actuator` anda feed dog, of a rocking `member posltlvely conshort link to the actuator which is'provideydl upon the driving shaft and being also ful" crumed .approximately between its ends,

savid short link being at thc dead center at 'the termination of the dog retracting movement whereby the recovery of said dog from its retracted stroke is retarded, and whereby also the recovery of said dog from its advance stroke isaccelerat-ed, and means for regulating the movement or throw of the feed dog.

10. In a sewing machine feed mechanism, the combination with a feeddog, of a revoluble driving ,sha-ft, an eccentric carried thereby, a link connected-to said cranko or eccentric, of a rocking member ositively connected to said4 feed dog for li ting and depressing the same, means for regulating the throw or movement of one of said rocking members whereby 'to limit or extend the movement of the feed dog, a separately pivoted device intervening bet-Ween said driving shaft and said rocking member, a link connecting said separately pivoted device to said rocking member for positively driving said separately pivoted device from said eccentric, said link a-t the dog lifting voperation being carried slightly past the dead center so as .tos prolong the time in which said dog is in an elevated position, a member also positively connected to said feeding dog for advancing and retract-ing the same and moved by said driving shaft in such a manner as to prolong the dwell between the retracting and advance strokes of said dog, for causing one end of the dog to move in a substantially horizontal plane.

11. In a sewing machine feeding mechanis-m, the combination with a revoluble driving shaft, of a feeding dog, a rocking member positively connected4 to the feeding dog for lifting and depressing the same, a separately pivoted device intervening between said driving shaft and said rocking member, an eccentric carried by said driving shaft for positively driving the A,separately pivoted member, a link. connecting the separately pivoted device and the rocking member, said link, during the dog lifting operation, being carried slightly past the dead center', so as to 4prolong the time in which said dog is in an elevated position; avrock.- ing member also positively connected to said feeding dog for advancing and retracting the same, an arm rigidly connected thereto, and la device through which movement is transmitted from Said driving shaft to the last mentioned roclnng member, said transpivotally mittmg device being at one end l]o1nted to sald arm, and a short link connecting its other end to the' eccentric, a ful- 5 crum support for said transmitter between `its ends, said short link being at the dead i center approximately at the time that the rst mentioned link is. at dead center and a device for regulating the movement of the to dog.

l2. `In a sewing machine vfeeding'mechanism, the combination with a .feeding dog,

cfa revoluble driving shaft, and an eccentric carried thereby, 'a rocking member posi- 15 tlvely connected toone end of-the feeding v .dog for lift-ing and depressing the same, and

a separately pivoted device intervening bef tween said driving shaft member, said separately pivoted device being positively driven by said eccentric, and means for so connecting said rockingmeng ber to said intervening device as to give said rockin member a prolonged dwell at the end of 'lts dog lifting stroke, and regulatable'means connected to the other end of stroke thereof.

HENRY BIssELL, vR. W. BissELL.

and -said rocking -25 the dog for regulating the length of feeding 

